Anatomical Studies of Medicinal Plant Fumaria densiflora in Iraq

Abstract

The anatomical characters of the leaf, stem and fruits of Fumaria densiflora of Papaveraceae family were studied by scanning electron and light microscopy. The results showed that the wall cells of adaxial and abaxial epidermis was thick with straight- sinuate anticlinal cell walls. Both surface have stomatal types of anomocytic, anisocytic and hemiparacytic. Leaf mesophyll consists of 1- 2 layers of palisade cells under the superior epidermis thickness rang 121.44 um and 3 or 6 layers of spongy tissue under the palisade layer. Cross sections of stems are pentagonal- shaped in outline and having five prominent angles.Fumaria fruits are tetragonal in shaped (fruit ribs are four). The external area included 2-4 layers of chlorenchyma cells as well as several layers of hypodermal collenchyma cells were recognized below the epidermis. Laticifer tubes could be seen in the sclerenchymatous sheath of the vascular bundles, the fruit wall, placenta and internal parenchyma layers.

Keywords: Papaveraceae, Fumaria densiflora, leaves, stem, fruits.